A major investment and expansion at Zimmer Biomet’s Bridgend site that will create 39 new jobs and safeguard 50 jobs will be announced by First Minister Carwyn Jones during his visit to the United States.
Zimmer Biomet’s £2.5m investment – backed by £700,000 finance from the Welsh Government – will create a European Centre of Excellence for Porous Coating that allows the company to specialize in porous coating technologies used in the manufacture of orthopaedic implants.
The company’s Bridgend and Warsaw, Indiana (USA) sites are the only two porous coating facilities within the company, and WG support ensured the recently announced expansion is undertaken in Wales. Zimmer Biomet is headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana.
The First Minister, who described it as excellent news, is in North America meeting and discussing investment opportunities with senior executives of key companies that have significant operations in Wales.
Zimmer Biomet’s UK operation is a Welsh Government Anchor Company employing more than 800 people from all over South Wales at Bridgend’s Waterton Industrial Estate, where it manufactures a range of hip and knee replacement products that are exported globally.
The First Minister said:
“The investment decision was confirmed today during my meeting in Chicago with Zimmer Biomet. I had the opportunity to reaffirm the Welsh Government’s support for the expansion of their business in Wales.
It is a key investment that secures the long term sustainable growth of the business in Wales and ensures it will continue to pay a prominent role within this global organisation. It is an exciting time for Zimmer Biomet’s Bridgend facility which is experiencing significant growth and high demand for its products. This expansion will increase its capacity, capability and competitiveness and create highly skilled well paid jobs.
It’s also particularly good news for patients and healthcare in Wales as the company’s on-going relationship with NHS Wales will help improve health service delivery and deliver cost savings.”